STARKVILLE – Democratic municipal election candidates locked horns and solidified their messaging in a Thursday candidate forum at the Sportsplex, with challengers sharpening their criticisms of the sitting board and mayor.

Running a half-hour longer than its planned 7-8 p.m. schedule, the platform was put together by the Oktibbeha County Democratic Party to give voters a chance to ask candidates more questions ahead of the April 1 municipal primaries.

For new candidates, however, it represented a chance to go on the offensive against incumbents, sometimes with help from friendly audience members willing to pitch for specific candidates. Former Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough, now a mayoral candidate, went so far as to compare city government under two-term incumbent Lynn Spruill to a “dictatorship” before pivoting to the shuttered Fire Station 5 in response to a question from his wife, who was in the audience.

“I care about the city of Starkville, and honestly we can do better,” he said. “I think we need a form of leadership that’s not a dictatorship, more of a form of giving back to the community. I want to help our city go to the next level. And to do that, we need to have leadership who cares.”

Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk, a Democrat running unopposed, asked Yarbrough how he intended to pay for reopening Fire Station 5. Yarbrough didn’t have a specific budget item in mind, but did say he’d look to government positions that are currently unfilled as an unutilized funding source.

Spruill touted her existing accomplishments and large projects still underway, such as McKee Park improvements, the Highway 182 renovation, wastewater treatment and upcoming redesign of Main Street.

“I actually hadn’t planned to run for reelection. I’m a believer in term limits,” she said. “But COVID-19 kicked us in the rear for a couple years. … We’ve achieved some extraordinary things over these years, and I’d like us to continue to do so. Some of the things we’ve yet to do will be extremely impactful. Some aren’t sexy, but they’re things that keep us from growing if we don’t do them.”

The third Democratic mayoral candidate, Brenna Betts, wasn’t quite so pointed in her criticisms of the sitting administration. A relative newcomer to politics, she used her background as a high school science teacher to talk about the importance of supporting kids outside of the school and the role the government can play in creating safe spaces for Starkville’s youth.

“Working in the parks department and in our schools, I started to see more and more of a need among our families,” she said. “Families that are struggling with housing or food insecurity. Difficulty walking to school, parents and kids having to both work jobs, and our students having nowhere they feel safe after school but home. That’s why I decided to put my hat in the ring.”

Alderman races

Statements from candidates for alderman positions alternated between relatively benign messaging from those running unopposed in the primary and much more contentious arguments from those squaring up against competitors.

Eight-term Ward 6 Incumbent Roy A. Perkins said his years of experience in government and as an attorney set him apart in his race.

“Let me say from the beginning that I am of the clear opinion that I am the best, most qualified and most experienced person to serve as Ward 6’s alderman,” he said. “As a matter of fact when I first came to this position, I didn’t require training or on the job learning. I brought that experience with me.”

His opponent, charity worker Tomeka Rhine, appeared unintimidated by Perkins’ record, instead entrenching the race’s battle line in the question of experience versus new blood. Embracing her status running a less established campaign apparatus, she positioned herself as closer to the community.

“I am not an attorney,” she said. “I am a graduate of Mississippi State University, but no, I don’t have all the accolades. No, I’m not a career politician. I don’t have a whole lot of promises and a whole lot of hot blowing to do to you. What I have is a love for my community and a desire to see change.”

A similar dynamic played out between four-term Ward 7 incumbent Henry Vaughn and newcomer Nedra Lowery, with Vaughn pointing to his record as proof of his fitness for office. He also used an audience question about why the candidates are running as Democrats to share his personal values.

“I believe in treating people fairly and helping the needy,” he said. “I’ve been marching and demonstrating and protesting for that since I was 14 years old. It’s in my heart. People are in my heart. Being fair is in my heart. Treating people right. I’m always out there trying to help people, always. I’m everywhere. That’s just the way I am.”

Lowery said her history running marketing for McDonald’s gives her experience running large administrative structures. She said she’d get out in the community and speak with her constituents, if elected.

“For 16 years, the representation you’ve had has yielded – contrary to what they say – little to no progress,” she said. “I thank (Vaughn) for his 16 years of service, you’ve done an OK job, but it’s time for change.”

Ward 3 Candidate Laurel Lynn Rowse is unopposed in the primary but will face either incumbent Jeffrey Rupp or James Skinner in the June 3 general election. With an extensive background in civil engineering, she emphasized the importance of improving transit infrastructure networks, and of attracting STEM jobs in an effort to improve quality of life in the city.

“Mississippi State is a huge draw for industry and jobs here in Starkville, but we need to support that growth with policies that promotes higher-paying STEM jobs here,” she said. “The environment is one of my top issues, mitigating severe climate events, and I’m a civil engineer.”

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